Chandler Stephenson’s career night powers Golden Knights over Wild

By Justin Emerson

Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021 | 10:13 p.m.

Chandler Stephenson never had four points in an NHL game before Sunday. He’d also never played a game without his grandmother.

Ask him, and there’s a connection.

Stephenson missed Vegas’ game on Friday to attend the funeral of his grandmother. He rejoined the team over the weekend, and went on to assist on all but one of the Golden Knights’ goals, including the game-winner, in a 6-4 victory over the Minnesota Wild at T-Mobile Arena.

“I think she was helping me tonight with that one,” Stephenson said choking back tears. “I’ve never had four points, so something needs to be said about that.”

Stephenson’s four points brought him to exactly a point-per game on average: 26 points (nine goals, 17 assists) in 26 games. The only contest he’s missed was when he was in western Canada with his family on Friday, but on every other night, he’s been one of the very best centers in the league.

Acquired by Vegas for a fourth-round pick in 2019 ahead of being placed on waivers by Washington, Stephenson had been a fourth-line grinder nearly his whole career before arriving in Vegas.

He played a similar role at first, but soon worked his way to the top line. Even then he was thought of by many as a product of wingers Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone — a passenger more than just the centerman they needed, despite those two playing their best hockey with him in the middle.

Stephenson has proven this season that couldn’t be further from the truth. He’s once again looked terrific with those two, but he also played 12 games without either in the lineup, a stretch where he had 10 points as the top center on the team.

“I think he’s taken the challenge of us being short-handed, of maybe people saying, ‘Well, you’re playing with mark Stone, that’s why you’re getting points,’ and some of his best hockey was with Stone and Pacioretty out of the lineup,” coach Pete DeBoer said. “I think he’s really taken the year to show that he’s a legitimate top-six player and a threat every night with his speed and the other things he does out there.”

He collected Stone’s takeaway on the first goal to set the play in motion for Zach Whitecloud’s first goal, then on the second goal won the faceoff and started the tic-tac-toe passing that finished with Evgenii Dadonov’s power-play tally.

Then he helped set up his linemates. He sprung Pacioretty for a breakaway in the second period, then again was part of the one-touch passing that led to Stone’s power-play goal in the third, a goal that held up as the game-winner.

He had four assists after never having even three in a game.

“For him to put together that kind of performance for was inspirational, something we needed as a team,” Stone said. “Nothing but character from Chandler to fly back and be with the team. Shows his resiliency.”

Stephenson is far more than the third wheel to two All-Star wingers, and Stephenson is playing his way into All-Star consideration himself, an event that will be held at T-Mobile Arena in February. It’s unlikely — there are so many good forwards in the Pacific Division — but that he’s there at all is a testament to how far he’s come.

And a night like Sunday is a night that many will remember for a long time. A night where Stephenson could have been forgiven if his mind was with his family a thousand miles away instead of the Western Conference-leading Wild. A night where he was running on emotional and physical fumes after a quick round trip to the other side of the continent. A night where he’d be given a pass if he turned in a clunker.

Instead he played the best game of his career.

“It’s tough and a sad couple of days, but I had a lot of support here,” Stephenson said. “Team, staff, players, everybody was there for me, so it helps you get through it and it was a special night for sure.”